Feed tray for cages



1968 R. w. REEVES 3,418,974

- FEED TRAY FOR CAGES Filed May 5, 1966 INVENTOR United States Patent 1 3,418,974 FEED TRAY FOR CAGES Robert W. Reeves, Floyd, Tex. (Star Rte., Floydada, Tex. 79235) Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 555,926 2 Claims. (Cl. 11918) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination feed chute and tray open at top and front with a support and pivot point intermediate of the top and bottom thereof.

This invention concerns a combinaton chute-tray to be used in feeding caged small animals, and more specifically in feeding caged chinchillas.

An object of this invention is to provide a one-piece feed tray by which feed, pellets, granules, powder, liquids, may be fed to the chinchilla from outside the cage.

Another object of this invention is to provide for emptying the feed tray from outside the cage without exposing an opening in the cage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a feed tray which can easily be removed periodically from the cage for cleaning.

These objects and inherent advantages will become clear with the description provided by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view showing the formed chutetray;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the chute-tray showing the normal feeding position and vertical opening necessary in the wire mesh of a cage, and

FIGURE 3 is the pattern to be used in forming the chute-tray from sheet metal or other material.

To describe the invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. 1 indicates the chute portion, and 2 indicates the tray portion of the chute-tray. 3 indicates the drilled and cut slots which furnishes the hanger and pivot points of the chute-tray. The chute means comprise a rectangular fiat wall 11 with a top free edge 12, a left side wall 13 and a right side wall 14, each side wall with a front edge 15 and 16 respectively, a top free edge 17 and 18, and a bottom edge 19 and 20. The front edge of each side wall as 15 has an upper free portion 21, an intermediate portion 22, a lower tree portion 23, and a lower fixed edge 24, the upper free edge portion extending from the top edge thereof forwardly and downwardly, the intermediate portion having a rearwardly and generally downwardly extending ledge 25 and, a recessed pivot slot as 3 provided in said ledge, said lower free edge portion extending from said intermediate portion downwardly and forwardly to the top of the lower fixed edge, said lower fixed edge of each side wall being connected to the tray means 2. The tray means comprises an integral extension of the rectangular fiat wall providing a floor means 28 and a lip means 29. The floor means and said lip means are connected with said bottom edge 19 and said lower fixed edge of the side walls, said pivot slot 3 provided in each side wall adapted to receive a wire 5 of a cage whereby the unitary feed means is supported with the tray means extending within a cage and the top free edges of the chute means is positioned outwardly of a cage for filling of the tray means and whereby the feeding means may be pivoted for cleaning the tray means. The installation and use of the chute-tray is as follows. The wire mesh of the exterior .of a cage is cut and removed to form an opening slightly wider than the chute-tray and of height as indicated by 4 in FIGURE 2. The chute-tray is installed from the inside of the cage by putting the chute 1 through the opening and pressing the hanger and pivot 3,418,974 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 slots 3 over the top horizontal wire 5 of the openng. The tray portion 2 being heavier than the chute portion 1, the tray remains in a normal feed position with the back of the tray 2 resting against the bottom horizontal wire 6 of the opening. The additional weight of the feed when added contributes to this balance feature. Just prior to the next feeding, the tray 2 may be quickly emptied of old feed and litter by pulling down on the chute 1 of the chute-tray. At no time during the emptying operation does the chute-tray leave an opening in the cage large enough for a chinchilla to attempt to get out. This feature would naturally apply to other small animals since the overall size and operation of the chute-tray is determined by the size of the animal itself. Periodically the chute-tray may be removed from the cage for cleaning by simply pressing off of the wire of the cage and withdrawing from the opening.

Since the chinchilla is a fur-bearing animal, naturally nervous, flighty and very apt to damage its fur when excited, the simplicity and ease of emptying old feed or litter and adding new feed through this invention can be extremely important to the chinchilla rancher. The cleanliness afforded by the use of this invention can, of course, be vastly important to the health of any small caged animal. The size and material of this invention can naturally be changed to conform to the feeding requirements of many caged small animals.

Having explained the properties and use of this invention, I claim as new the following:

1. A unitary feeding means comprising a chute support means and a tray means in fixed operative combination,

said chute means comprising a rectangular flat wall with a top free edge, a left side wall and a right side wall each with a front edge, a top free edge, and a bottom edge, the front edge of each side wall having, an upper free portion, an intermediate portion, a lower free portion, and a lower fixed edge, the upper free edge portion extending from the top edge thereof forwardly and downwardly, the intermediate portion having a rearwardly and generally downwardly extending ledge and, a recessed pivot slot provided in each said ledge, said lower free edge portion extending from said intermediate portion downwardly and forwardly to the top of the lower fixed edge, said lower fixed edge of each side wall being connected to the tray means,

said tray means comprising an integral extension of the rectangular flat wall providing a fioor means and a lip means, said floor means and said lip means being connected with said bottom edge and said lower fixed edge of the side walls, said pivot slot provided in each side wall adapted to receive a wire of a cage whereby the unitary feed means is supported with the tray means extending within a cage and the top free edges of the chute means positioned outwardly of a cage for filling of the tray means and whereby the feeding means may be pivoted for cleaning the tray means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said feeding means is formed of sheet metal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 175,133 7/1955 Siggins 119l8 X 204,562 6/ 1878 Gunther 11918 FOREIGN PATENTS 361,272 8/1938 Italy.

HUGH R. CHAMBLEE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 119-63 

